# The Valley of Voices explained — Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz > Chapter companion for Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum. ## What happens The travelers emerge from the glass mountain into a beautiful, sunless valley called the Valley of Voe. They discover that the inhabitants are invisible due to eating the dama-fruit, which also renders the local bears invisible. After the piglets eat the fruit and become invisible, the group meets an invisible family who offer them hospitality and explain the dangers of the valley. ## Themes in this chapter ### Hospitality and Generosity The invisible family welcomes the strangers, offers them food, and reassures them despite their own fears of bears. ### Adventure and Exploration The group discovers the Valley of Voe, encounters invisible beings, and learns the valley's secrets. ### Humbug vs. True Magic The Wizard's piglets become invisible through natural means (dama-fruit), blending wonder with practical danger. ## Character check-ins ### Dorothy Gale Explores the valley, interacts with the invisible family, and learns about the dama-fruit. ### Zeb Travels with the group, observes the invisible phenomena, and is startled by the invisible man's voice. ### The Wizard Discovers the piglets have become invisible, converses with the invisible people, and learns about the dama-fruit. ### Jim the Cab-Horse Pulls the buggy into the valley, grazes on the grass, and is noted by the invisible man as a potential target for bears. ### Eureka the Kitten Frolics on the grass, tries to walk in the air, and comments on the piglets' invisibility. ### Billina Not directly mentioned in this chapter, but the piglets (her offspring) are present and become invisible. ## Key lines > right beside you,” spoke a tiny voice. “Can’t you see us?” “No,” answered the little man, in a puzzled tone. “We can see you,” said another of the piglets. The piglets, now invisible, tell the Wizard they are right next to him, though he cannot see them. _Highlights the invisibility effect of the dama-fruit._ > “That is the one evil of our country,” answered the invisible man. “Many large and fierce bears roam in the Valley of Voe, and when they can catch any of us they eat us up; but as they cannot see us, we seldom get caught.” The invisible man explains that invisible bears are the valley's main danger, but invisibility protects the people. _Reveals the valley's threat and the reason for eating dama-fruit._ > “If it makes you invis’ble, why do you eat it?” Dorothy enquired. “For two reasons, my dear,” the woman’s voice answered. “The dama-fruit is the most delicious thing that grows, and when it makes us invisible the bears cannot find us to eat us up.” Dorothy asks why they eat the fruit if it causes invisibility, and the woman explains it is both delicious and protective against bears. _Illustrates the trade-off of invisibility for safety._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dorothy_and_the_wizard_in_oz_se/chapters/viii-the-valley-of-voices - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dorothy_and_the_wizard_in_oz_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dorothy_and_the_wizard_in_oz_se/chapters